HII signs new contracts

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded an $88.2 million fixed-price contract by the US Coast Guard (USCG) for the purchase of long-lead materials for a ninth National Security Cutter (NSC), the company announced on 30 August.

The funds will be used to purchase major items for the vessel, including electrical switchboards, generators, the main propulsion systems, steel and major castings.

Ingalls has already delivered the first five NSCs to the USCG. The sixth NSC, Munro (WMSL 755), is scheduled for acceptance sea trials and delivery in the fourth quarter of 2016. The seventh and eighth are currently in/set to commence construction.

The 418ft NSCs have a top speed of 28 knots, range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days. The vessel has an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats, as well as a flight deck for manned and unmanned rotary wing aircraft. The cutters are designed to carry out missions for law enforcement, marine safety, maritime homeland security, national defence and environmental protection.

Ingalls has also announced a $13.7 million contract (with incremental funding) for contract design work on the amphibious warfare ship replacement for the US Navy, known as LX(R). The LX(R) will replace the navy’s Harpers Ferry- and Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships, and will use the same hull as the San Antonio class (LPD).